Visual borehole analyses can be easily misleading. Therefore, the recently published laboratory results from the first drill hole of the season SR23-01 on the Storm Copper Project on Somerset Island, Nunavut, are a great satisfaction for the geologists of American West (ASX: AW1; OTCQB: AWMLF; FRA: R84): The examined sections of SR23-01 match exactly with the visually identified sections and even exceed them, confirming the classification of strong visual copper sulfides (estimated value >1% Cu) during the logging process. Specifically, the drilling delivered high-grade copper mineralization over a total of 28.9 meters in three near-surface intervals: 15.2m @ 1.2% copper, including 4.6m @ 2.8% copper from 54.9m; 7.6m @ 1.2% copper, including 3.1m @ 2.4% copper from 79.3m and 6.1m @ 1.1% copper, including 3.1m @ 1.4% copper from 120.4m.
Accordingly, the geologists are looking forward with great anticipation to the upcoming laboratory analyses for the additional eight Reverse-Circulation (RC) drill holes from the 4100N zone, which have now been completed. Similar to SR23-1, all drill holes intersected thick sections with strongly visible copper sulfides, thus continuing the 100% success rate of 2023. The drilling thus confirms near-surface copper mineralization over 850m x 300m, which remains open along strike. The drilling program is in full swing and continues to intersect large amounts of visible copper sulfides within the central and western part of the known mineral system in the 4100N zone. Due to the continued success and expansion of the mineralized footprint, additional holes have been added to the 4100N zone program. To date, 17 holes have been drilled in the 4100N zone.
Dave O’Neill, Managing Director of American West Metals, commented: “While we have only received the assay results for the first hole of the current program, the results confirm and exceed our initial visual estimates. This is a fantastic outcome and gives us confidence in our geological interpretations and assumptions regarding the continuity of the mineralized zones. The drilling at Storm continues to highlight the potentially substantial size of the mineralization, with every hole so far intersecting thick intervals of visible copper sulfides. The growing scale is very encouraging as we work towards an initial resource estimate.”
Accompanying the drilling, American West is conducting geophysical surveys using the Moving-Loop EM method. The crews have completed the surveys of the 4100N, 2750N West, and Tempest targets. The data from these surveys are currently being processed and will subsequently be evaluated.
Conclusion: With this high pace of exploration, investors can look forward to further updates in quick succession. The current drilling confirms the findings of previous drilling, suggesting that the mineralized footprint in the 4100N zone extends over an area of about 32 hectares. This gives American West an excellent opportunity to define a significant near-surface resource base that could serve as the foundation for an initial cost-effective open-pit operation. Tests for ore sorting and processing for a possible Direct Shipping Operation (DSO) are already underway. The company also intends to present results on this shortly.
